Wichita eagle., 1887-08-03
RAMBLES ABOUT EUROPE.
From England to Egypt Especially for
the Eagle.
NO. XIV.

LONDON, July II, 1887.
! l was agreeably surprised last Sunda
, NOR ming to meet the Hon. B. W. Perkin
= of Kansas, in one of the corridors of th
| Midland Grand hotel. The sight of ia
miliar face, and that one too of muc
valued friend, is boon to be highly ap
preciated in foreign land. For the mex
seven weeks we shall be travelling compar
, ions together on the continent. The judg
, is delightful company, and l felicitat
myself much on the prospective increas
of social enjoyment In the continuation o
my rambles through Europe, upon whicl
we set out to prosecute tomorrow. / neet
scarcely inform you that my prolonged
stay in London has been both pleasant ant
instructive In after years, if am spared
l shall look back upon it with singh
regret and that will be because of my ina
bility to enjoy the same delightful exper
fences and sensations the second time. O.
course have not seen all of this great city
| Intend to see, nor have | written 1.-THE o.
what has come under my observation
Berhaps it is just as well. But to business
You have not forgotten the existence Of
noted minister of the Gospel, the Rev.
Newman Hall, who officiates at Christ
church not very far from Westminster
Abbey, but on the opposite side of the
river Thames. We attend Divine services
here, as much to view the church ediice
inside and out as 10 satisfy a curiosity tc
hear man of his reputation preach.
AS to the church, it was erected ex-
pressly for the ministrating of this gentle
men in perpetuation of Surrey chapel
which was founded by the Rev. Rowland
Hill, in 1881. 1t is built of stone in mod
ern design, and has tower 220 feet high, the
cost of which was betrayed equally by
Americans and Britons to commemorate
the Abolition of Slavery in the United
States and is called Lincoln tower. The
total cost Of grounds and edifce was $780,
600. 1t was opened in July 4, 1876. In
doctrine the church is undenominational,
but services are conducted, as l heard q
festive young American remark, on the
European plan"-the Episcopal Liturgy
being used, Judging from the one sermon l
heard would not rate Mr. Hall as an i'm
pressive speaker. 1t was disappointment
to me similar to my experience some years
ago, of Ralph Waldo Emmerson-on the
lecture course. The revernd gentleman
looks to be all of IS years-he has preach
ed 1 believe in this city for 80 years. Still
his voice is strong and Wig
erous and he may live like
Mr.. Gladstone far beyond the years al
lotted to man. There is fine organ in tie
church but no choir nor leader and the con-
greg ational singing was anything but a
panacea for nerves. The contrast between
the services in Christ church and the Spur
geon Tabernacle was striking. We stood
in the doorway Of st. Margaret's church
when Canon Farrar was officiating, but
seeing no vacant seats withdrew. st. Mar
garet stands near Westminster Abbey and
just across the street from the parliament
buildings 1t is an old church commenced
in the reign of Edward l. The House of
Commons attends divine service here at the
opening and close of the session.
The House of Commons has been COM
pared to our national House of Representa-
tives. l have always had great desire to
witness their sittings, which am happy
to say was gratified through the courtesy
of Minister Phelps, upon whom, in COM
pany with Judge Perkins had the honor
to call and handsomely entertained for
over an hour, 1t Is very difficult matter
for one not occupying high official position
or distinguished as having held such, to
gain admitance to parliament l acknowl-
edge my Indebtedness to the judge himself,
as a member of congress. for removing the
barriers that admitted me to the gallery on
an order procured by our minister
from the speaker of the house.
1t might not be out of place right here to
say that the present minister of the United
States to the Court of St. James, is con-
sidered by nearly all intelligent Americans
on this side the water as well as British
subjects, as thorough gentleman, fine
lawyer and statesman fully up to the re-
quirements Of his position so far as his
present duties are concerned Were a
great emergency to arise seriously affecting
the interests of the United States, his
thorough efficiency would of course be put
to the test, but as matters stand now be-
tween the two countries-and barring the
agitation of the Irish question-such an
era of good feeling never has prevailed
before. | am told first class mission can
be filled by second class appointment and
the interests of our country not suffer.
MIR. Phelps had many questions to ask
about Kansas, and in the course of con-
versation paid her glorious tribute. He
said that on certain occasion he was re-
4uired as president of the National Bar as
to furnish a report of all new
legislation in each state of the Union. |
After making thorough examination of
ali the laws that had gone on the statute |
books for that year he was deeply i'm
pressed with the session laws of two states, |
namely, Kansas and South Carolina He |
grew quite eloquent over the mat /
ter, contrasting the two states that |